Machine for grading and measuring lumber



Dec.13, 1927. v 1,652,198

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E. A. GODLEY ET AL MACHINE FOR GRADING AND MEASURING LUMBER Filed March 26. 1923 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 fig-.162

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E. A. GODLEY ,ET AL MACHINE FOR GRADING AND MEASURING LUMBER Filed March 26. 1923 l4 Sheets-Sheet l3 .HHHH 64 WW Edwin A. dodley' amZLfl J 71167726121,

Dec. 13; 11927. 1,652,198

E. A. GODLEY ET AL MACHINE FOR GRADING AND MEASURING LUMBER Filed March 26. 1923 14 'sh'eets sn'e't '14,

bar/o Ida/7214. 601/6] aid/Z601 72M 772102 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT-A QFFliiiE.

EDWIN A. GODLEY AND LEG J. GRUBMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE ron enanrne Ann MEASURING LUMBER.

Application filed March 28, 1923. Serial No. 627,595.

This invention relates toa machine for grading and measuring lui nber. As is well known, the lumber produced from diiferent species of is employed lhese different for different purposes.

gradesof-lumber bear distinguishing marks.

In the larger lumber mills, the marking and measuringof the different grades of lumber is a time consuming and more or less laborious. task. Obviously, therefore, the overheadexpense is increased, resulting in a corresponding increase in the purchase price of such graded lumber to the consumer.

It is the, primary object and purpose of our present invention to provide a mechanical meansfor stamping the proper grade mark upon the lumber and then subsequently automatically measuring each piece of lumher and producing a separate record of the board foot contents of all lumber of each grade. In addition to measuringeach-grade of lumber in terms indicative of its board foot or cubic measurement, we also provide additional automatic measuring means for obtaining the total surface area and board foot measurements of all grades of lumber passing through the machine.

In one contemplated embodiment of our invention, we may briefly refer to the machine as consisting of three units, namely, first the board manipulating mechanism which automatically manipulates or positions the board so that the grading expert may observe all parts thereof and thus correctly determine its grade; secondly, the marking or stamping mechanism which is under control of the grading expert-and which automatically stamps or marks each piece of lumber with a numeral or; other character denoting'the grade thereof; and finally, the measuring mechanism which is automatically actuated by the board in the feeding movement of the latterand operates separate odometers upon which the surface measurementand the board feet contents of the board respectively, are registered. This automatic grade stamping and measuring mechanism may be conveniently arranged in advanceof a plan ng machine to which the ll"b' tbl l l l iougi um ei is me o e p anec oi cressec.

It is an additional ob ect of ourv present invention to provide an automatic measuring mechanism of trees is gradedas to quality, and

improved construction, in

which means is included for insuring an accurate measurement of the boards or lumher, even though the boards may be badly warped or of non-uniform. thickness. Another important feature of the measuring mechanism consists in the provision of a series of separate odometers or integrating devices upon which the cubic measurement of the different grades of lumber is respectively registered, means for selectively rendering the odometers operative, and means automatically acting to lock the operating connections for the remaining odometers in the series and also prevent disconnection of the operative odometer from the. measuring mechanism.

lVith the above and'otherobjects in view, our invention consists in the improved lum ber grading and measuring machine and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein we have disclosed one practical embodiment of our invention and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views} Figure 1' is a top plan view ofthe complete machine.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line :22 of Figure 1, the housings of the grade marking mecha-iiisin and the measuring mechanism being omitted;

Figure 3 is a top plan view'with certain parts broken away. of the grade marking mechanism;

Figure his a fra mentary elevatisn the euntrol means;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the measuring mechanism Figure 13 is a front end elevation thereof;

Figure let is a rear end elevation of the measuring mechanism;

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of Figure 1a;

Figure 16 is a similar view taken on the line 1616 of Figure 1 1;

Figure 17 is a detail section illustrating certain of the parts seen in Figure 16;

Figure 18 a sectional view taken on the line 1818 of Figure 1 1;

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showing the mounting of the actuating shaft for the shiftable pinion which controls the proper operation of the cubic measurement registering mechanism in accordance with the thickness of the board;

Figure 20 is a side elevation illustrating the operating mechanism for the several measurement registering odometers;

Figure 21 is a sectional view taken on the line 2121 of Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a section taken 2222 of Figure 21;

Figure 28 is plan view of said mechanism;

Figure 2% is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-l24 of Figure 20;

Figure 25 is a detail view illustrating the flexible operating connection between the main shaft of the grade marking mechanism and the means for operatively connecting the selective grade measuring odometers with the measuring mechanism; and

Figure 26 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2626 of Figure 25.

For convenience of description, we may refer to the machine as comprising three distinct units, so associated and arranged with respect to each other that the grading and measuring of each piece of lumber or board is carried outin a continuous and uninterrupted operation. The first of these units, generally designated A in the drawings, is a board manipulating and feeding table. As herein shown this table consists of similar parallel side frame members 5 in which a plurality of spaced parallel transversely positioned rollers 6 are suitably journaled at their ends. The roller shafts one of their ends are extended beyond the frame member 5 and provided with suitable sprockets for engagement by the drive chain 7. Rotation is imparted to one of the end rollers through a suitable driving connection 8 from any convenient source of power, and through the medium of the chain 7 the remaining rollers are positively driven or rotated in the same direction and at the same speed.

Upon one of the side frames 5 and spaced above the same, a. longitudinally extending guide rail 9 is suitably supported. This rail on the line extends from one end of the table and terminates in an inwardly curved finger 10 at a point in spaced relation to the opposite end of the table. Those feed rollers 6 for the longitudinal extent of the rail 9 are provided at one of their ends and adjacent to the inner side of said rail with the circumferential grooves 11. The lumber or board, as ind cated at L in Figure 2, is placed upon the feeding rollers in edgewise position with the lower longitudinal edge of the board engaged in the grooves 11. As these rollers rotate, the board is longitudinally fed with its outer side in contact with the rail. 9. As the end of the board strikes the inwardly curved finger 10 of said rail, the board is turned inwardly so that it falls downwardly to a horizontal position upon the feed rollers 6, the feeding movement being then continued with the board in this position. It will thus be apparent that a grading expert stationed at one side of the feed table will first observe one side of the board as it is moved longitudinally by the feed rollers in the position seen in Figure 2, and then when the board is disposed in ahorizontal position on the rollers above explained, he can readily observe the opposite side thereof. Thus the board. can be carefully inspected, its imper fections noted and its proper grade determined accordingly.

This lumber manipulating means, above described, is not herein claimed, since it forms the subject matter of our divisional application for patent, filed May 9, 1924, Serial No. 711,974.

The second unit of the machine is the grade marking mechanism B, of which we shall first describe the mechanical construction, and then subsequently explain the operation thereof. In connection with this part of the machine, reference is to be had more particularly to Figures 3 to 11, inclusive of the drawings. 7

The grade marking mechanism is mounted upon a suitable suppor ing structure having a board receiving plate or table 12. Below this table the transverse power shaft 13 is suitably mounted and carries one or more feeding wheels 14 which at their upper portions are engaged in suitable openings 15 in the table 12 and are adapted to engage with the underside of the board as it is fed longitudinally over said table by the rollers 6, in order to positively continue without interruption the longitudinal movement of the board over the surface of the table 12.

In suitable bearings 16 at one end ofthe table 12, the ends of a shaft 17 are journaled. Upon this shaft at its opposite ends the hoii zontally disposed arms 19 of a frame 18 are loosely mounted for rocking mo ement. At the other ends of said the frame parts have upwardly downwardly extending portions and intermediate of their ends are all : member 31.

formed with suitable bearings to receive.

the opposite ends of a sleeve 21 through which the main shaft 22 is loosely engaged.

'Upon the sleeve 21, a nun'ibcr of'wheels.

26 are loosely mounted for free rotation and are adapted to engage the upper surface of the board and thus hold the same in close contact with the peipheral surfaces of the feed rollers 1%. Normally, when the board is not engaged between the rollers 14: and 26, said rollers are in close relation to each other. The frame 18 is yieldingly sustained by means of the coil springs 2'? which are engagedinsockets or recesses 28 and 29 formed in the frame parts and in the opposite edges of the table 12' respectively.

Uponthe sleeve 21 spaced gears 30 are fixedly mounted by means of keys 31. One face of each of these gears is recessed to receive the canrmeniber 31 which is keyed to thesleeve21 for rotation therewith. his face of each gear 30 is also provided with radially extending recesses or channels 32 communicating with the recess in which the cam 31 is positioned- A type bar 33 is longitudinally movable in each of these channels and is normally pressed inwardly by means of a coil spring 3% which yieldingly holds the inner end of the type barin en gagement with the periphery of the cam The springs 3 may be conveniently located in the channels 32 within slots 35 formed in the type bars said springs hearing at one of. their ends against the inner end walls of the slots and at their outer ends against "the lugs 36 whichrare formed upon the gear member 30. The movable type bars 33' are retained within the radial channels of the gear member by means of the cover plate 37 which is fixed to. the. face of the gear by suitable screws 38. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention we have shown six of the radially mo vable type bars 33. Thesebars are provided on their outer end faces with numerals, letters or other d s inguishing characters denoting the dif erent grades of lumber. In the present instance we may consider. these bars as provided with the type numerals 1 2, 3 i, 5 and 6 respectively.

A pair of spaced arms 39 are also keyed or otherwise fixed t0, the sieeve21 in the same radial relation to the shaft 22. Rotation of the sleeve 21 relative to the shaft 22 and consequently the movement of said arms in one direction is resisted by a contractile spring: .40 which is suitably connected to collar :1 which is keyed upon one end of the sleeve. This collar carries a pawl which is yieldingly urged outwardly beyond the periphery of the collar by the spring l3-and.

mounted upon the shaft'22.

into engagement with the internal teeth l of a double ratchetlti which is suitably fixed upon the imier side of the gear s3 secured upon the end of the shaft22. The external teethdG. of this ratchet which extend in the same direction as the internal teeth sl t, are engaged by, a second pawl or dog 4-" suitably mounted upon the frame part 13 beneath said ratchet and pressed upwardly into engagement with the ratchet teethbyv the spring 48.

Below the sleeve 21 the collar a1 is formed with a slot 49 in which a bar 50 is movably engaged. The lower end of this bar is prodded with studs 51 and 52 respectively projecting in opposite directions therefrom. The bar is yieldingly urged inwardly in the slot 49 by means of the leaf spring 53 wh rebv the stud is held in position for engagement by circumferentially spaced cam lugs 5% formed upon the ratchet at one side of the external teeth is thereof. It is also to be noted that the pawl or dog a? is of such width that it not only engages the teeth 46 of the ratchet but is also disposed. in the path of movement of the outer end of the bar 50 and thus acts to limit the turning or rotative movement of the sleeve 21, levers 39 and cams ill-under the contractile action the spring 40. The other stud 52 on the bar 50 is adapted for engagement with a cam 55 which is fixed to the frame part 18, the coaction of the stud with said cam projecting the bar 50 outwardly from the slot 49in collar 41 so as to position the other stud 51 for engagement by one of the cam lugs (A, as will hereinafter be more fully explained. Each of the arms or levers 39 carries a roller 56 at its outer end with which the board is adapted to engage as it is fed through the machine, as will be readily understood from reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.

The shaft 13 is driven from a motor or other convenient power source by the drive belt 57 or other equivalent driving connection with one end of sai shaft.

l he osner end of the shaft 13 is connected by s rocket and chain drive 58 to one endof the shaft- 17. Upon this end of said sh ft a gear 59 is fixed and meshes witha gear 60 loose y This a r is formed with a recessed which is provided at its oute internal lug or tooth 62 adapted for engagement by a tooth 64: formed upon the periphery of a clutch member 63 which is keyed upon the end of the shaft 22 for sliding movement. 7

Upon the end of shaft 22 a disc 65 loosely mounted. One face of this disc 1 provided with a cam lug 66, the opposed face of the clutch member 63 having similar cam lug 67. .These lugs are disposed at the same radial distance from the axis of shaft 22 and have obliquely inclined cam faces 3 and 69 respectively. A coil spring 70 has one of its ends fixed to the clutch member 63 and the other end thereof fixed to the disc 65. This spring by its contractile action tends to normally hold the clutch member in position on the shaft 22 with its tooth Gt disposed in the path of movement of the tooth 62 of the gear 60 and to also dispose the cam lug 67 of the clutch member in the same circumferential path as the cam lug 66 on the disc 65. Upon a suitable supporting bracket 71 a casing or housing 72 is mounted. Upon the pivot rod 73 within this housing a plurality of lovers 74 are loosely engaged, said levers corresponding in number to the number of type bars carried by each of the gears 30. Each lever 7% has an operating finger 5 extending outwardly through an opening in one wall of the housing 72. The inner side of the housing which is opposed to the disc 65 may remain open, or if closed, the inner wall thereof is likewise provided with suitable openings through which stop lugs 76 formed upon the upper ends of the levers may pr' ect. Said lovers are urged to normal position by means of the leaf springs 77.

Above the series of levers 7 a fixed shaft 78 is mounted in spaced brackets 79 and upon this shaft a sleeve 80 is loosely engaged, the lower side of said sleeve being formed with a longitudinally extending locking rib 81. One or more springs 82 act to yieldingly resist rotation of the sleeve 80 and to normally hold the locking rib 81 in contact with stop pins 88 on the brackets 7 9. Each lever 74 is additionally provided with an upwardly projecting lug 84 to coact with the locking rib 81 in a manner to be subsequently explained. The levers 74 are adapted to be manually actuated, and when pressed inwardly by the application of the finger to the part 75, a selected lever may be disposed with its stop lug 76 located in the circumferential line of movement of one of the lugs 85 which projects from the outer face of the disc 65. These lugs which likewise correspond in number with the number of levers 74 and the type bars 33, are disposed at relatively different distances from the axial center ofsaid disc. It is of course, understood that the lugs 76 of the levers are located at relatively different points with respect to the axis of the disc so that they will properly coincide with the path of movement of the respective lugs 85.

If desired, the selective operation of the levers 74 may also be electrically controlled in the manner indicated in Figures 9 and 11 of the drawings. For this purpose, we provide an eleetromagnet 86 for each lever having its core rod 87 operatii 'ely connected to the lower end of the lever 7 i at 88. Ad jacentto the position of the expert observer at one side of the table 5, a switch box 89 is suitably arranged containing switches 90 of any suitable type, corresponding in numher to the number of the levers 7 1. Thus by closing the proper switch, the magnet 86 will be energized to operate the selected lever.

Upon reference to Figure 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that only one of the type bars33 carried by each of the gears 30 is engaged with the cam face 31 of the member 31, the remainder of the type bars being in projected position with their type bearing faces projecting slightly beyond the peripheral faces of the loosely mounted rollers 26. Rotation. is positively transmitted to the gears 30 through the medium of spaced pinions 91 fixed upon the countershaft 25. The type faces of the bars 33 are supplied with ink from the inking rollers 92 which are rotatably mounted between the upper ends of the frame members 18 and extend longitudinally above the rollers 26.

In the operation of the grade marking or stamping mechanism above described, assuming that the arms 39 are in their normal positions, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and stud 51 on the bar is engaged beneath one of the cam lugs 5% of the ratchet 45 while the other lug 52 on said bar is disposed beneath the cam 55, after the observer has noted the grade of the board as it is fed to the machine, he operates the proper lever 74 or closes the proper switch 90 so that the stop lug 76 of the lever is positioned in the path of movement of the corresponding lug 85 on the disc 65. Upon rotating the power shaft 13 and thereby transmitting rotation through gears 59 and and the clutch member 68 to the main shaft 22, the gear 23 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5 of the drawin s, thereby transmitting rotation to the countershaft 25 and through the pinions 91 rotating the gears 30 relative to the sleeve 21. This sleeve and the collar 41 fitted thereon remain stationary .while the ratchet 45 fixed to the gear 23 rotates with respect thereto. However, since the stud 52 is engaged with the outer end of the cam 55, the bar 50 will be retained in its projected position after the cam lug 54 on the ratchet moves out of engagement with the pin 51, In this rotation of the main shaft 22 and the clutch member 63 thereon, rotation is also imparted to disc through the medium of the connecting spring between said disc and the clutch member.

Then the lever '7 was actuated, the lug 84 thereon engaged the rib 81 of the sleeve and locked said sleeve against the action of the springs 82 until the locking rib engaged behind the lug 841-, thus holding said lever against the action of spring 7 7 with its stop finger 76 disposed in the path of movement of one of the lugs 85. Thus, when this ill) its

'68 of thelur; 6 6 on said ch.

s b i V n the clutch member ('33 axiaily of the shart.

held in projected position by one of the hiss ratchet 45 the outer end of this. 3

held against further rotation and the cam face 69 of the h1g6? on the shiftable clutch member .63 engagi the complementary cam operates to move against the contractile action of spring and disengage the tooth 6% of said clutch member from the tooth 62 on the gear 60, thus disconnecting the main shaft from the operating gearing so that the rotation of the gears 30 carrying the 'marking type is brought to stop when the type bar 33 bearing the character corresponding to the lever 74 which was actuated and denoting the gra e of the board, is positioned immediately above the board at the rear side of the arm or lever 39, sh wn inFigure 8 of the dra ings. During the slight further rotation of'shaft 22, while the cam lugs 66 and 67 are acting to disengage the clutch 63 from gear 60, the spring 70 will be placed under torsional stress so that it will have a tendency to turn the disc 65 on the end of shaft 22 and'hold the lug 85 thereof inhearing contact with the finger 7 6 of the lever.

As the board is fed beneath the rollers '26, the end of the board strikes the rollers 56 on the lower ends of the arms 39 and moves said from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 to the full line position. These arms being fixed to the sleeve and said sleeve being connected to the ratchet through the medium of the pawl l2, it will be understood that in this movement of said arms the collar ll, ratchet 4:5,- gear and the gears 30 all move as a unit therewith. In this movement of the suflicient rotation ,s

r se he previously p05 tioiied type bar at 0:.- stamp said mark at spaced points on the surface of the'board at'its end. the bar 50 moves with the collar 41 and cam this bar passing behind the upwardly pressed 47, as in Figure {5 of the drawings,

holds the arms 39 and the parts actuated" thereby against return movement after the board has passed outwardly beyond the roll crs 26 and the type carrying gears.

The type 'arrying gears can, however, be

' a J: o operated independently 0L the arms 09 to reset the same and dispose another type bar in proper position for printing while the board still remains beneath the rollers as.

Referring again to Figure 8 of the drawiii-gs, it will be noted that when the marking means is actuated bythe board. as above described, the cam faces 31 of the cam memare moved from the full line posithe dotted line positions, or in other tions 5 words, a position below the shaft imparted to the gears 30 I the proper grade mark to im-:

Therefore, it will, be apparent that in any further rotation of the gem 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow, the type bars 33 will be successively pressed inwardly against the cam faces 31 as the outer ends of said type bars approach the board so that I the t )6 faces will not eni a e with and im- I print their marks on the surface of the board moves said rib upwardly above the 1ug8 l of the lever 7 l which was previously actuated," therebyreleasing said lever so that t ISHI'Q- turned to its normal position by spring 77..

The lug 8 on the second lever 7% then passes to the opposite-side of the rib81 per mit-ting of thereturn of sleeve to its normal position whereby this latter lever. is

locked against return movement with its finger 76 positioned in thepath of movementv of another of the lugs on disc 65; As the disc 65 is thus released from the holdingaction of the finger 76 on the lever which was first actuated the spring 70 by its torsional action moves the disc 6 5 relative to shaft i 22 and by its contractile action shifts the clutchinember 63 on said shaft to again gage its tooth 64 with the tooth 62 of gear 60. It will be understood that enthe tact 'Wltll each other. rotation is-again transmittedv to the shaft properly position another fed through the marking mechanism will be marked withthe proper characters when it engages and actuates the arms 39, which itwill be understood, return to their normal positions as soon a the firstboard has passed beyond the marking mechanism.

Such return movement of the arms is permitted owing to the fact that in the resetting of the 'inai'king mechanism, the cam lug 5a which was engaged with the stud olis disengaged therefrom so that bar 50 is moved inwardly by the spring Thus,

after the board is'disengaged from the roll-: ersoti, the spring 40 may contract to returnthe arms to their normal position, it being understood that in such movement, the-sleeve and collar rotate relative to toe shaft 2 while the pawl is engaged with another of the internal teeth in theratchet Thus it will be seen that the markers may be lectively positioned so as to imprint the U v the cam lugs 66 and 67 remain lIlSllCllIlg con- Therefore, positive 'so. or another lever '{manuallyactuated. As i the lug84lofisaid lever engages the convex s de face 81 of the rib 81 on sleeve 80, 'itproper grade mark or character upon the board when a further automatic movement is imparted to the marking mechanism by the feeding of the board therethrough.

We do not herein claim the above described grade marking mechanism per se, as it forms the subject matter of a second divisional application, filed May 9, 1924, Serial No. 711,973.

After the board has been marked or stamped with the character denoting its grade or quality, the surface andcubic measurements of each board are automatically registered upon odometers or other suitable integrating devices. and described a measuring mechanism for this purpose in our pending application filed September 23rd, 1921, Serial No. 502,620. The operating principle whereby the measurements of the board are automatically registered is the same in the present instance as that involved in our pending application. However, we have made certain very important improvements in the former mechanism in the interest of greater accuracy andhaveprovided means for selectively registering the measurements of boards of different grades upon individual odometers. This measuring mechanism C, we shall now proceed to describe in detail.

Upon one end of the bed plate or table 12 at the opposite edges thereof, bearing plates 93 are suitably mounted and supported, upon the brackets 9%. These plates are connected to each other by tie rods 95 and 96 res ectively.

l etween the lower ends of thevplates 93 a shaft 97 is rotatably supported. To opposite ends of this shaft the arms 98 and 99 respectively, are'fixed. The arm 99 is of hollow construction for a purpose which will be presently r ferred to and is rotatably engaged upon a bearing projection 100 on the frame plate 93, the shaft 97 terminating in said arm which constitutes a rotatable support therefor, as will be seen from reference to Figure 21 of the drawings. .The other arm 98 which is of solid construction, is fixed upon the shaft 97, the outer end of said shaft being directly journaled in the other frame plate 93. These arms 98 and 99 support the lower tapered measuring roller 101,

the periphe '.-.1 surface of which is knurled or finely corrugated. The measuring roller is provided at its ends with shaft extensions 102 which are rotatably journaled in the ends of the supporting arms. The shaft 97 is encircled for a portion of its length by a torsional coil spring 103, one end of which is fixed in a collar 10-1 pinned on said shaft while the other end of said spring is suitably secured to the tiered 95. This spring normally acts to rotate shaft 97 in one direc tion and urge the arms 98 and 99 carrying the measuring roller 101 upwardly to normal /Ve have illustratedposition. One end of the shaft 97 carries'a i finger 105 adapted to engage an adjustable stop 106 on the frame plate 93 to limit this upward movement of the measuringroller under the action of spring 103. It is to be observed that the arms 98 and 99 are disposed in such relative angular radial positions with relation to the shaft 97 that the axis of the measuring roller 101 is positioned at an inclination relative to the transverse dimension of the horizontal. table or bed plate 12. V

In advance of the measuring rollers a guard member 107 is arranged. This member is in the form of a metal casting hava plurality of depending flanges 108 and is provided at its opposite ends with the shaft extensions 109 which are rotatably supported between the upper ends of the frame plates 93. To each of these shaft extensions an arm 110 and 111 respectively, is

fixed. These arms correspond in form and construction to the arms 98 and 99 previous ly referred to, the arm 111 being hollow and mounted at one of its ends upon the bearing extension 112 on the frame plate 93. Be tween the ends of these arms the upper measuring roller 113 is supported. This roller is of similar tapering form and has the same sion 109 and holds the guard member 107' in an elevated position and against gravity swinging movement, where it will be ob served that the lower edges of the flanges 108 are obliquely inclined upwardly as at 117 in a direction opposite to that in which the board is moving over the bed plate 12.

The rear ends of these inclined edges 117 are disposed closely adjacent to the periphery of the upper measuring roller 113 and substantially in the plane of its lower surface. Thus it will be apparent that since the roller supporting arms are fixed to the shaft extensions 109 of the guard member,

when the forward end edge of the board strikes the inclined edges117 of the flanges 108, said guard, together with the upper roller 113. will be raised so to expand or un coil the spring and'the end edge of tie board will not contact with the peripheral surface of said roller and the rotation of said roller will not be started by frictional contact with the board until said end edge of the board is disposed exactly in vertical alignment with the axis of the measuring 

